Jayme arrived at Kassia's shop as summoned. She looked around while Danni got her out of the back room.
"I'm glad you're here!" Kassia smiled, as a little girl walked up beside her. The child was about six years old with striking auburn hair and green eyes. "Jayme, this is my daughter Tiyanna. Tiyanna, this is my friend Jayme."
"Hello," Tiyanna smiled brightly.
"Hello, Tiyanna." Jayme stooped down to be on eye level with the little girl. The little one giggled and she looked up at Kassia. "I'm guessing I was sent here for counseling."
"Not exactly..." Kassia smirked.
Suddenly from the back room two more children appeared. A boy around eight years old and a girl around two .
"Come on, Arianna. Aunt Kassia is waiting for us," he coaxed.
"That's Zac and Arianna Mallory," Kassia introduced, seeing if the names would ring any bells.
"Ugggh... wow." Jayme stood and the little girl tugged on her pants leg and then stood there with both hands in the air. "Kassia. I don't understand -- Arianna wants something, I think?"
Jayme sighed and looked back down at the kid. "Maybe I should just make another appointment?"
"Pick up," came the soft voice from the little girl, looking up expectantly at Jayme.
"Actually, Arianna just wants you to pick her up," Kassia clarified with a smile. "And I'm afraid you won't get out of this," she replied with a devious smile. "Come on, this will be fun! You just have to learn to relax a little bit!"
Kassia watched a panic stricken look cross the lieutenant's face as Jayme knelt down and lifted the little girl into her arms. "Am I correct in 'these two' are Captain Mallory's kids? Sounds like I am being 'kidnapped?"
"Maybe in a manner of speaking..." Kassia laughed. "The kids and I are going to kidnap you and take you to the holosuites for awhile. Captain Mallory's treat," Kassia said. "And don't worry. Kids don't break that easily. Seems that Arianna likes you!"
Arianna nodded and smiled, planting a kiss on Jayme's cheek. She then giggled.
Kassia nodded, and Zac reached out and took Jayme's hand and pulled her towards the exit. The woman looked back at Tiyanna and Kassia and noted that they held hands and a wicker basket. "So, what's the program?" Jayme asked with a tone she used for missions of grave importance.
Jayme looked over her shoulder at Kassia and knew the other woman was making fun of her... there was something that kept pulling at the front of her mind but she just couldn't figure out what it was. She wasn't aware of it before entering Kassia's shop. She shrugged and they walked to the Holosuites and the beach. Zac looked up at Jayme and his sister and tugged a little more urging them to hurry.
They entered the shop, and Kassia signed them in and escorted everyone through the portal.
As they entered the holosuite, they were met with the vision of a beautiful beach with sand that was almost white. Very tall trees that looked similar to palms reached up to touch the sky, only they had large purple blooms on them and some kind of fruit. The sky was blue with the hint of lavender and two crescent moons could be seen. The water was a crystal blue and gently lapped at the shore. The shore scene was breathtaking.
"Tiyanna, you and Zac set out the blanket," Kassia said.
"Okay, Momma."
Immediately, she took the blanket from the basket, went to Zac. Zac let Jayme go and they both went to one of the large trees and spread the blanket out under it. Kassia then put the basket down on top.
"So what do you think?" She asked.
"Wow." Jayme said. Arianna was wiggling in her arms. The little girl squealed and wiggled, "me down... me down." Jayme knelt down and set the little one on the sand. "Have you ever really been to this beach?"
"Here, before we talk," Kassia said. "You might want to change into these." She tossed Jayme some clothes.
Jayme changed outside the holosuite in a small room, placing her uniform in a locker. She changed into shorts and a light weight top, and some funny footwear that flopped around when she took a step. She just glanced back up to check the position of the kids, who had already changed into swim suits and saw Arianna racing towards the water. Jayme quickly moved off after the romping toddler.
Kassia watched as Jayme grabbed Arianna just in time as the delighted toddler got her feet wet.
"We'll play in the water soon, Arianna!" Kassia called. "Let's eat a little snack first."
Jayme brought her back and they all sat down. Kassia pulled out some cut up melon, chips and sandwiches. She also pulled out paper plates and napkins and some juice packets. She arranged the plates and handed them out.
"Actually, I have been to this beach in real life. This beach is on the world of Santori. The last world I lived before moving here," Kassia smiled. "I didn't get a chance to come here often, but when I did I always loved it..." She handed Jayme a plate and a juice packet.
Jayme reached over to help Zac with his juice pack just as he got the straw to puncture the seal, and so she took the one Arianna handed her. The little girl's smile was bright as she took the open packet back. Jayme looked up at the trees, the sand and the waves.
She took a bite of the sandwich and as she chewed noted the texture of the brown filling and the sweetness of the purple gel. Again she caught the itchy buzzy feeling in her head and turning noted the smile and smothered laugh of Kassia.
"Ummm, What kinda sandwich is this?" Jayme asked taking another bite.
"And old kid favorite from Earth, I'm told," Kassia said. "It's called 'peanut butter and jelly'. The jelly is grape. I find its easy to eat at the beach." She smiled. "Have you ever been to the beach before?" she asked, noting Jayme's gaze as she took everything in.
"No. Mars isn't big on oceans and the atmosphere is lethal... I spent several months on Earth at Starfleet Command but spent my time studying... couldn't see what the attraction was to getting sunburned, sandy or wet. Since I've volunteered for small self-contained bases, or ships.... being in so much open space gives me the creeps."
"So does this give you the creeps?" Kassia asked a bit skeptically.
"I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches," Zac piped in.
"Well, I love the beach!" Tiyanna said. "Mom, can I go play in the water now?"
Kassia looked at her daughter's plate. She hardly touched anything, whereas Zac had practically wolfed down his sandwich. With a sigh, she nodded.
"Okay, you're food will be here when you want it."
With an excited giggle she took off toward the water.
"Wait for me!!" Zac yelled as he got up and chased after her.
Jayme leaned back and Arianna climbed up on her lap. She sighed and brushed the little girl's hair off her forehead. "Yes," she paused then added, "and no. The distraction of the kids and in my mind I know this is the holosuite on SB901."
"But there is part of you that is afraid," Kassia replied. "And if this were real instead of a holosuite program...?" she questioned as if trying to simply make conversation.
She turned to watch Zac and Tiyanna splash each other and laugh in the water enjoying the feel of the sun and the surf.
Jayme leaned back against a tree trunk and noticed the child in her lap was half asleep. "Yes, this bothers me..." She watched the two older children splash in the waves. "Don't worry -- I've been on training and research missions on planets... it's just not my personal choice."
"Is there a reason?" Kassia asked curiously.
Zac had finally gotten a hold of Tiyanna and had thrown her into the water. She screamed and laughed at the same time. She retaliated by splashing him as much as she could.
"Is that safe?" Jayme asked indicating the rambunctious pair.
She saw Kassia smile and shrug, "They're okay."
Jayme decided the other woman wasn't to be distracted from their conversation, and said. "I was born and raised in the domes and underground habitats on Mars."
"Then anywhere with a real atmosphere must be a bit intimidating," Kassia replied with understanding.
"I think its more the open space." She smiled down and watched the sleeping child. Kassia stood and offered a hand to help the other woman up. Together they walked down the beach to the two splashing squealing kids, Jayme standing ankle deep in the surf.
"Open space can be very freeing sometimes, if one lets oneself open to it..." Kassia said. "You have to be able to allow your spirit to go beyond the confines of what feels safe... The more you stretch your wings the farther out your safe zone goes..." Kassia looked at her and thought she might be enjoying the feel of the water on her feet and the sand in her toes. She was. Zac and Tiyanna still were running and splashing like crashing.
Arianna woke from her nap and started squirming. Jayme lowered her to the sand but kept a hold of her little hands as she danced and splashed in the water. Tiyanna was now at her mother's side, and asked, "can I have the rest of my sandwich mom?" Zac smiled, "and more juice?"
Go ahead," Kassia smiled.
The two children ran to the blanket and the food.
"I have always loved the beach, though I don't always have good memories... But I suppose that's true of any place..." Kassia said.
"I'm sorry, but we all have memories that are more painful then others. I hate to cut this short but I am due for a shift in Sickbay in little over an hour... I should be going," Jayme said as she watched some birds floating in the warm air currents.
"We'll talk again and I think I'd like to visit the beach with you and the kids again sometime. But duty does call." With a wave to the kids she moved through the tall grasses and trees to the exit.
After exiting she leaned against the wall and took several deep breaths before moving to the small room where she had left her uniform in a locker.